Clinical Experience of Open-heart Surgery by Means of Hypothermia and Heart-lung Machine

A total of 216 cases underwent open-cardiac operations up to December 1963. The hypothermia was applied for 121 instances, while 95 individuals were operated upon by means of heart-lung machine. On the basis of the above clinical experiences, advantages and disadvantages of hypothermia and heart-lung machine have been described and our current point of view about operative indications has been presented. Furthermore, detailed account has been made on history and development of hypothermia and heart-lung machine for open-heart surgery in our department. Some improved points which may contribute to widening indications of hypothermia, in particular, have been discussed.